Piṅgiyānī untranslated

Piṅgiyānī 01. A Brahmin of Vesālī. The Aṅguttaranikāya records a conversation between him and Kāraṇapāli. The latter meets Piṅgiyānī and, on learning that he was returning from a visit to the Buddha, asks him about the Buddha’s wisdom. Piṅgiyānī utters the Buddha’s praises with a wealth of simile and metaphor. Kāraṇapāli is impressed, and declares himself the Buddha’s follower (AN.iii.236ff). On another occasion, Piṅgiyānī is present when five hundred Licchavīs come to pay honour to the Buddha at the Kūṭāgārasāla. The sight of the Buddha, sitting in their midst, outshining them all, inspires Piṅgiyānī and he bursts into song. The Licchavīs give him five hundred upper garments, all of which he presents to the Buddha. AN.iii.239f.

Buddhaghosa says (AN­a.ii.636) that Piṅgiyānī was an Anāgāmī. He went daily to the Buddha, with flowers and perfumes. See also Piṅgiya (3).

Piṅgiyānī 02. Wife of Brahmadatta. One day when opening her window she saw a royal groom, with whom she fell in love, and when the king fell asleep, she climbed down through the window, lay with the groom, and climbed back again, after which she perfumed herself and lay down beside the king. The king eventually discovered her misdemeanour and proclaimed it to his ministers, depriving her of her royal rank.

The story is one of those related by Kuṇāla, who is identified with Brahmadatta (Ja.v.444). It is perhaps this story which is referred to as the Cūḷa Kuṇālajātaka (Ja 464).